James Cameron wrote:
> On Wed, Jan 05, 2000 at 12:38:41AM -0500, Norman Tomlins wrote:
> > I have converted this to a PDF if anyone is interested I will upload the PDF
> > file it's about 110K.
>
> PDF is a proprietary format, not an international standard.
>
> I do have a viewer for it, but it is painfully slow when compared
> to HTML or text.  Lynx can display HTML for me in about 2 seconds.
> PDF takes 30 seconds.
>
> Some of you may feel I'm being pedantic about this ... that I should
> just bite the bullet and go get another computer just so I can run
> the same software ... but please have a read of this article;
>
> http://www.anatomy.usyd.edu.au/danny/freedom/ip/aidfs.html
>
> Especially the abstract.  But this analogy from the document is
> particularly relevant to this situation on the PIClist ...
>
> "An Analogy: Baby-milk Powder
> <snipped extract>
>
> So I'm pushing the PIClist back to non-proprietary formats.
>
> --
> James Cameron   mailto:quozl@us.netrek.org   http://quozl.us.netrek.org/

I have to agree, though IMHO it's fine if you provide a "plethora" of
options for people - Nothing is wrong with providing RTF *and* html, for
example, as there isn't really universal graphics file acceptance -
Netscape 4.08 doesn't DO PNG, yet, for example.  (See my earlier
damnation of UniSys <G>)  I'm working on finding free SPICE links, as
then we can hopefully all use that for passing designs (it's a
netlist-like format.)

On that Frequency Counter project, I put PNG, TIFF and BMP schematic
drawings there, anyone here ought to be able to read ONE of those <G>
Peter rightly pointed out that I'd not managed to replace the web file,
it is fixed NOW anyways.  (Need to install GhostScript here, for WFW
3.11, some day, so I can handle .PS files - that or get the Postscript
printer installed <G>)

Myself, I'm a great fan of just plain 8-bit ASCII, even better
non-HTML;  Works really well with grep, and I can stuff quite a lot more
on a spare small palmtop, to search on the side while I work on some
project.  (Try Grepping for various terms like Head, in an HTML file,
Terrible pain.)

Not everyone uses ASCII databases, ASCII text files for inventories,
etc. etc.;  I do, I find I can transport from machine to machine, it's
HANDY, and I can always import it into a database program if I really
*need* to print it;  Haven't printed it in about 2-3 years, easier to
grab a PC110 & search the copy than to go find a copy <G>

Just because a tool's "neat", doesn't mean it everyone else's solution
to a perceived problem, IOW.

OTOH, I think James should definitely get another computer - just not
saying he should run anything but Linux on it <VBG>  ("Think Beowulf
Clustering", James <G>)

  Mark

--
I re-ship for small US & overseas businesses, world-wide.
(For private individuals at cost; ask.)